Many small pets happily climb on their wire cages. Pets in smooth-sided enclosures enjoy ramps and elevated platforms. Exercise wheels are also very popular, as many small pets expend energy by running. Wheels must be an appropriate size and solid or mesh construction to prevent back, foot, and tail injury.

Ferrets love to explore - whether in the Ferret Nation, or a ferret-proofed room. Caged ferrets should play outside the cage at least 1-2 hours daily.

Rabbits enjoy having the run of the (rabbit-proofed) house. When you can't supervise play, fill the cage with hay-filled tubes, paper for shredding, untreated wood, and "tossable" toys like Bunny Flip & Toss toy.

To provide a maximum amount of roaming space for your pet, you may want to consider an exercise pen. Your rabbit will have much more room to get exercise. It is also less likely that your pet will suffer from the health conditions resulting from being cramped up in a small cage, such as arthritis, overgrown toenails, boredom, and depression. If you choose a pen, it is a good idea to place it in an area with easy-to-clean flooring like linoleum, wood, tile, or laminate. You will still need to provide a covered area, such as a crate, cardboard box, or hideout so that your pet has a place to retreat for privacy.

Since some rabbits can jump very high and may scale an exercise pen, always supervise your pet. Even if you think your rabbit is incapable of escaping the pen, it's a good idea to place it in an area of your home that is fully "rabbit-proof." This means taking measures to make sure your rabbit cannot chew or ingest electrical cords, toxic plants, carpets, furniture, etc., or that he cannot squeeze into gaps behind furniture or appliances.